Quality Control in Mineral

Exploration
Controlling the Quality of
Information from Field to Data Base

Smee and Associates Consulting Ltd.

Not to be reproduced without written permission

Smee and Associates

 Quality Control in Mineral
Exploration
There many goals associated with a QA/QC program for the mineral
industry:
Prevent the entry of large errors into the geological Database.
Demonstrate that sampling and analytical variances are small relative to
geological variance.
Provide assurance that the accuracy of the data can be confirmed.
Save management time by automating sample names and performing
automatic checks on sample names.
Allow problems to be realized rapidly to minimize their effects.
Keep an archive for a complete audit trail.
Comply meticulously with government regulations and standards with a
minimal amount of employee time and effort.

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 Quality Control in Mineral
Exploration
Canadian Securities Regulation NI 43-101 dictates that
every resource delineation project must come under the
direction of a Qualified Person (QP)

A QP is a professional with at least 5 years experience

and a member of a recognized professional
organization that has an enforced Code of Ethics.

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 Quality Control in Mineral
Exploration
World securities regulators and financial
institutions have adopted the principles of
NI 43-101 and now demand that full QC
procedures are used for all resource
delineation exploration programs

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 Quality Control in Mineral
Exploration
Form 43-101 F1, Item 14 details the
mandatory requirements for a technical
report, including:
3. A summary of the nature and extent of
all QC procedures employed and check
assay and other check analytical and
testing procedures utilized, including the
results and corrective actions taken.

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 Quality Control in Mineral
Exploration
Form 43-101 F1, Item 15 specifically
details the data corroboration requirements
including:
the QC steps and data corroboration procedures
which have been taken,
whether the author has corroborated the data
the nature of and limitations on such
corroboration
the reasons for any failure to corroborate the data

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 Quality Control Procedures are
Necessary to Monitor
Accuracy

Precision

Contamination

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 Accuracy

the degree to which an analysis or mean of a

set of analyses approach a true
concentration.

Note: the true concentration is never

known; an accepted value together with
error limits accompanies most standards.

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 Precision
Is an estimate of the reproducibility of the
sampling and analytical system. The percent
precision is related to concentration by:

Pc = 2Sc/c x 100

where Pc is the precision in percent at

concentration c, and Sc is an estimate of the
standard deviation at that concentration.

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 Quality Control

Comparison of Accuracy and Precision

Bias

Precise but not Accurate Accurate but not Precise Both Accurate and Precise

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 Sampling and Analytical Bias

A systematic error inherent in a method or

caused by some artifact or idiosyncrasy of
the sampling system.

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 Contamination

The introduction of any substance to a

geological sample that is not in the original
in situ location of that sample.

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 Geological Blank

A sample of uncrushed rock or drill core that

is known to contain a very low or non-
detectable concentration of the element
being sought.

The blank is used to monitor contamination.

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 Geological Standard

A composite of naturally occurring

geological material for which an accepted
mean and error on the mean has been
defined.

The standard is used to monitor accuracy.

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 Round Robin
The analysis of a newly prepared geological
standard, done in replicate by a number of
labs, the purpose of which is to calculate the
accepted mean and standard deviation. At
least 60 analyses using a minimum of 5 labs
are recommended.

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 Field Duplicate Sample

Splits of drill core, reverse circulation

cuttings or outcrop from the same sampling
interval. These splits are bagged separately
with separate sample numbers so as to be
blind to the sample preparation laboratory.

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 The Use of Field Duplicates

The field duplicate contains all levels of

error: core or RC cuttings splitting, sample
size reduction in the prep lab, and sub-
sampling at the pulp, plus the analytical
error. They are also a check on possible
sample over selection.
The duplicates are used to calculate field,
preparation and analytical precision.

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 Preparation Duplicate Sample
Splits of one sample taken after the coarse crush
but before pulverizing (pulp). These should be
done routinely by the sample preparation
laboratory (usually 1 in 40 samples).

The preparation duplicate has the error of sample

size reduction in the preparation lab and the error
of analyses.

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 Pulp Duplicate Sample

Two separate weighings and analyses from

one pulp. These are usually done routinely
by all laboratories (between 1 in 5 to 1 in 20
samples).

The pulp duplicate has the error of analyses.

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 Sample Over Selection
Samplers have, either purposely or
inadvertently sampled geological
material, usually drill core, so as to
preferentially place visible mineralization
in the sample bag going for analysis.

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 The Use of Standards
Certified Reference Material (CRMs)

These may be purchased from a number of

sources including:
Canmet: www.nrcan.gc.ca/mms/canmet-mtb/ccrmp/
CDN Labs: www.cdnlabs.com/
NIST: ois.nist.gov/srmcatalog/
USGS: minerals.cr.usgs.gov/geo_chem_stand/
Rocklabs: www.rocklabs.com/
Geostats: www.geostats.com.au
African Minerals: www.amis.co.za
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 The Use of Standards
Certified Reference Material (CRMs)

New standard
certificates include
the Between Lab
Standard Deviation,
which is to be used in
assessing accuracy of
a single analysis.

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 The Use of Standards
Property Specific Standards
Standard 1, Round Robin

Round Robin 1.10

1.05

analysis and 1.00

L2

statistical
L3
0.95 L2 L2L2 L3 L3
L5
L2L2 L3 L3L3 L4 L5
L2 L3 L3 L4 L4
L1 L1 L2

calculations. 0.90 L2 L3 L5
L1 L3 L5L5L5
Gold, gpt

L1 L1 L2 L4 L4
L1 L4 L4 L5L5
L1 L5 L5
0.85 L1 L1 L4
L4
L4
L1
0.80

0.75

0.70

0.65

0.60
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Analytical Order

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 The Use of Standards
Property Specific Standards
Standard chart with Standard 1 Gold
Round Robin and Drill Holes

standards from drill 1.00

samples. 0.90
Round Robin Data
L3 L3 L3
L3
Drill Data

Mean + 2SD
L1L1L1 L1 L1 L2 L3 L3 L3 L3L3
0.80 L1L1
L1L1 P-27
P-27P-28
L1 L1L1 L4L4
L4L4
L4 L4
P-24 P-26 P-27
Assay Grade (Au gr/T) L1L1 L1L1L1
L1
L1
L1 L1 L1
L1 L2 L3 L3L3 P-26
P-26P-27 P-29
P-24P-25 P-29P-31
L1 L2 L2L2 L3L3L3 L3 P-24 P-27P-29
P-29 P-31
P-28 P-31
P-32
P-32
P-32
P-32P-34P-36
P-33
P-34
L1 L2 L2 P-25 P-32 Mean
L2L2
L2
L2 P-24
P-25
P-25P-26 P-31
P-31 P-33
P-34
P-35
P-35
P-35
P-36
P-37
P-38

Note: lab does better

L2
L2 L2 L2 L3 L3 P-26 P-28P-30
P-30
P-30
P-30 P-35P-38
0.70 L2L2 L4
L4
L4
L4
L4
L4
L4L4L4
L4L4
L4
L4
L4
L4
L4
L4
L4L4 P-25 P-28
L2 L2
L2L2 L3
L2
L2 L3 L3
Mean - 2SD

as drill program
L3L3
0.60
L3
L3

proceeds. 0.50
L2

0.40
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180
Number of Samples

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 The Use of Standards
Property Specific Standards
Standard C3, Au
Field Screw Ups 4.50

4.00
92

Failed standards SGS GLGL

GLGLGL
GLGLGL
ACAC
AC AC AC
84 114

AC 8687 89

caused by poor GL GL BC BC 7979 109 114

3.50 BC BC ACAC79 93 95 108
CM SGS SGS BC 99100 107
104106
SGS
SGS BC BC
BC BC AC
AC 80
8182 86 88 909291 110112 118
Au, gpt

CMSGSSGS
SGS
BC 87 89 108109 114
SGS
SGS 100 116
ACT 94 97

sample storage and

CMCMCMCMCM ACT 116
ACT
ACT 110
CMCM 110111
3.00 ACT 116
ACT
ACT 117
ACT
ACT 79 105
ACT 99 105

contamination of 2.50
CM
88
97

104
108
117

85

standard in field. 79
86
90
96
94 9798

89 99
2.00
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Analysis Number
81 109

Standards in drill samples

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 The Use of Standards
Property Specific Standards
a0213053

Inventing ways to screw up. SPD-2 Standard Samples

Failure
wrong standard name
Give the standard a name in O

the data base. Wrong standard

selected in the field. %

a0213683
a0213574
a0213487
a0118681 a0129828
a0130261
a0130563
a0129829 a0212001
a0211855
a0118683
a0117844 a0129055 a0130257
a0129319 a0210946
a0210677
a0211201
a0211494
a0211491
a0211497 a0212111
a0212179 a0213887
Gold, g/t

a0116918 a0128554 a0210954

a0130973 a0211204 a0211771
A0114936 a0116916
a0116920
a0119059
a0117842 a0118687
a0116322 a0117839
A0115476
A0116318
A0115473
A0114939

A0115477

e
Failure

;
y q
Work Order Number

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 The Use of Standards
Property Specific Standards
a0213052
SPD-1 Standard Samples
Inventing ways to screw up.

Failures
Give the standard a name in )

the data base. Wrong standard K a0213682

selected in the field. m A0114938 a0128088

a0130258 a0211200
a0210680 a0211492
a0129317 a0213888
a0129827 a0211856
a0212112
a0212187
a0211772 a0212850
Gold, g/t
a0129829 a0130972 a0210952
a0211203
a0211498
a0116915 a0118682 a0211495
A0115472
A0116320
a0117838 a0118685 a0128553
a0129054 a0130565
a0130569 a0210945
A0114935 a0117841 a0118690 a0130975 a0213572
a0116917 a0119063
a0119272
a0117845 LI09575-0

Failure (blank)
;
y q
Work Order Number
a0128089

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 The Use of Standards
Property Specific Standards
Porphyry Copper Project

Field standard 0.45

0.44

showing both drift 0.43

0.42

and change in
Calibration drift
0.41
0.40

instrument. 0.39
0.38
Cu, %

0.37
0.36
0.35
0.34
0.33
5 % difference in average grade
0.32
0.31
0.30
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
Analysis Number

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 The Use of Field Blank
Most contamination Field Blanks, Preparation Contamination

occurs during sample 45.0

preparation. Blanks
40.0

35.0

must therefore be 30.0

submitted from the Silver, gpt

25.0
Failed Blanks
field to the preparation
20.0

15.0

laboratory. 10.0

5.0 Warning Level

0.0
75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120
Drill Hole Number

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 laboratory. It

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This contamination

contained 95 g/t Au.

of the pulverizer, that
originated in the steel
blank only, not by the
was found by the field

Au ppb

0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
220
240
260
280
300
320
340
360
380
400
420
440
460
480
500

08/10/1998

12/10/1998

16/10/1998

20/10/1998

24/10/1998
1998

28/10/1998

01/11/1998

05/11/1998

09/11/1998

13/11/1998

17/11/1998

21/11/1998

25/11/1998

29/11/1998

03/12/1998

07/12/1998

11/12/1998

15/12/1998

19/12/1998

23/12/1998
Field Blank Au ppb

Date of Analysis
Massive Batch Contamination

27/12/1998

31/12/1998

04/01/1999
The Use of Field Blank

08/01/1999

12/01/1999

16/01/1999

20/01/1999
Warning Level
1999

24/01/1999

28/01/1999

01/02/1999

05/02/1999

09/02/1999

13/02/1999

17/02/1999

21/02/1999

25/02/1999
 The Use of Field Blank
P-35 P-36

The beginning of a Field Blank

drilling program 0.30

usually has the most 0.25

failures, as the
P-24 Drill Hole Number

Assay Grade (Au gr/T)

0.20 P-38

laboratory becomes 0.15

P-25

accustomed to the 0.10 P-26 Warning Level

samples. 0.05 P-24

P-24

P-24 P-24P-25
P-25 P-25 P-27
P-27P-27 P-29
P-29
P-29
P-24
P-24P-24
P-24
P-25
P-25
P-25
P-25
P-25
P-26
P-26
P-26
P-26
P-26
P-26
P-26
P-26
P-26
P-26
P-27
P-27
P-27
P-27
P-27
P-27
P-28
P-28
P-28
P-28
P-28
P-28
P-28
P-28
P-28
P-28P-29
P-29
P-29
P-29
P-29
P-30
P-30
P-30
P-30
P-30
P-30
P-30
P-30
P-30
P-31
P-31
P-31
P-31
P-31
P-31
P-31
P-31
P-31
P-32
P-32
P-32
P-32
P-32
P-32
P-32
P-32
P-32
P-32
P-33
P-33
P-33
P-33
P-33
P-33
P-33
P-33
P-34
P-34
P-34
P-34
P-34
P-34
P-34
P-34
P-35
P-35
P-35
P-35
P-35
P-35
P-35
P-36
P-36
P-36
P-36
P-36
P-36
P-37
P-38
P-38
P-38
P-38
P-38
P-38
P-38
P-38
0.00
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Number of Samples

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 The Use of Field Blank
Example of field
blank using
unmineralized core.

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 The Use of Field Duplicates
1st step in handling Precision Resources Field Duplicates

duplicate data is to plot

the original analysis vs the

duplicate analysis. Look )

for fliers that may Regression Line

indicate sample mis- m 1:1 Line

ordering or nugget effect.

Gold, Duplicate

Possible sample mix-ups

=

 i O > $ 
Gold, Original

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 The Use of Field Duplicates
1st step in handling
Example of Bias Chart
duplicate data is to plot 4.0

the original analysis vs the

3.5
duplicate analysis. Look 1:1 Line
for fliers that may 3.0

indicate sample mis- 2.5

ordering or nugget effect.

Au 2, gpt

2.0

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0
Au 1, gpt

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 The Use of Field Duplicates
Calculate the mean
Difference vs Mean of Duplicates
of the duplicates 1.2

and the absolute 1.0

difference between 0.8

the duplicates to
Absolute Diff of Duplicates - Au (g/t)

look for the

0.6

relationship 0.4

between grade and 0.2

precision. 0.0
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5
Mean of Duplicates - Au (g/t)

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 The Use of Field Duplicates
Thompson-Howarth Estimate of Precision
Sort the mean and
absolute differences Thompson-Howarth Precision Calculation
Regression of Groups of 11

by increasing mean. 0.20

Regression Equation
Then group the data y = 0.0493x + 0.0112

in sets of 11 0.15

Median Diff of Gps of 11 Duplicates - Au

samples. Calculate
0.10

the mean of each

set of 11 and the 0.05

median difference.
Plot these. 0.00
0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5

Mean of Gps of 11 Duplicates - Au (g/t)

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 The Use of Field Duplicates
Thompson-Howarth Estimate of Precision

Calculate the
regression Regression Coefficients
equation of the Intercept 0.0112 =So
linear regression
line. X Variable 0.0493 =K

Pc=2So/C + 2K

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 The Use of Field Duplicates
Thompson-Howarth Estimate of Precision
C Pc
Use the formula to 0.01
0.02
234.36
122.11
calculate the 0.04
0.05
65.98
54.76
relationship 0.10 32.31
0.15 24.82
between precision 0.20 21.08
and concentration 0.25
0.30
18.83
17.34
0.35 16.27
0.40 15.47
0.45 14.84
0.50 14.34
0.55 13.94
0.60 13.60
0.65 13.31

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 The Use of Field Duplicates
Thompson-Howarth Estimate of Precision
Thompson-Howarth Precision vs Concentration
Plot this precision !

data on a chart. K

K
Precision (%)

u
c c ec Dc #c c c c c c _c
Concentration, Au, gpt

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 The Use of Field Duplicates
Thompson-Howarth Estimate of Precision
Repeat this All Dup Precision, Au, All Data

procedure for all 100

Pulp Dup

three types of
90 Prep Dup
Core dup
80

duplicates. This 70

will show where

60
P re cisio n , %

50

the major error is 40

in the sampling 30

20

and analytical 10

protocol. 0
0.00 0.20 0.40 0.60 0.80 1.00
Au, g/t
1.20 1.40 1.60 1.80 2.00

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 Quality Control Logic

Decision logic is required for each

project to decide if a QC sample is a
failure, and a reason for the failure.

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 Quality Control Logic
Example of Logic for Gold Project

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 Example of Table of Failures

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